How to keep pests
Bugs, flies and other dreaded household pests are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Mice, rats and cockroaches can have many people reaching for the poison. But there are proven methods that will help prevent home infestations before they even reach you, and plenty of ways to treat your home if it’s too late for preventive measures.
Andrew Kitson from Jim’s Termite and Pest Control in Australia says while chemical solutions used to be the norm, there are a lot of options that don’t involve ‘‘spraying the whole shebang’’ with toxic chemicals.
‘‘It’s true that [chemicals] are effective against home invaders, but artificial pest repellents, sprays, baits and poisons can be dangerous – if not lethal – when accidentally ingested or touched,’’ Kitson says.
‘‘If you or anyone in the house, especially kids, are exposed to pesticides, there can be serious consequences like irritation of your skin and your lungs.’’
As well as posing danger to humans, household chemicals can have long-lasting effects on the environment. Kitson warns that liquids, aerosols and solid pesticides can all find their way into groundwater.
‘‘If you’re constantly reaching for the bug spray or you just have poison set around the home to help stop ants, you are at risk of contaminating waterways,’’ he says. ‘‘Think about your mop buckets, or wiping down a bench that you then rinse – that’s chemicals going straight down the drain.’’
There are alternative ways to de-bug a home, such as essential oils and non-toxic household cleaning products.
Prevention is key
You don’t need to treat an infestation if it never happens, so the first approach is to keep